Bernice Irene Persons, 94, of Cloquet died Tuesday, July 3, 2007, in her home at Evergreen Knoll, Cloquet. She was born in 1913 in Duluth to Leland and Ella Hammond. Bernice graduated from Duluth Central High School in 1931 and from the Duluth Teachers College in 1933. She taught in country schools until 1937. She married Harry Lyes on Oct. 23, 1936, in Barnum. Bernice took time off from teaching to raise her family. In 1954 she returned to teaching at the Esko schools, until retiring in 1974. Her husband, Harry, died in 1965. On March 28, 1974, she married Milton Persons in Duluth. He also preceded her in death in 1989. Bernice was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church where she loved making quilts for Lutheran World Relief. She enjoyed telling stories to everyone, especially her family, about their family history.
In addition to her two husbands, Bernice was preceded in death by one son, Leland H. Lyes; brother, Howard Hammond; two grandsons; and daughters-in-law, Sharon Lyes and Joyce Lyes.
She is survived by her children, Jessie (LeRoy) Gramstrup of Gilbert, Judy (Ted) Niesen of Cloquet, JoAnn Wells of Duluth, Michael (Cindy) Lyes of Cloquet and Janet (Bill) Kasparek of Corpus Christi, Texas; 12 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Memorial service was held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 7, in Bethel Lutheran Church in Scanlon with Pastor Joy Armstrong officiating. Lunch followed in the church social hall. Inurnment was in Atkinson Cemetery, Atkinson Township.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Evergreen Knoll, 1309 14th Street, Cloquet, MN 55720.
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Arrangements entrusted to Northland Funeral Home, 801 14th Street, Cloquet, 218-879-7184. To sign the guest book and leave an online tribute, see www.northlandfuneralhome.com .
July 11, 2007
- Cloquet, Minn.
